Rep. Waxman Reports Benefits of ACA in LA County

U.S. Congressman Henry A. Waxman, ranking member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, recently released a new report on the impact of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), in Los Angeles County. The Act was signed into Law in March 2010.

The report describes the number of Los Angeles County residents who are receiving new benefits and consumer protections provided by the historic health care reform law.

One new ACA benefit, as described in the report, requires that health insurers and employers provide easy-to-understand summaries of benefits and coverage under their health care plans. The requirement applies to all new plans or renewals after Sept. 24.

“I am proud to see that the law I worked so hard to pass is improving the lives of so many Los Angeles County residents,” said Waxman. “The law ends the worst abuses of the insurance industry and is already helping millions of Angelenos.”

“For the first time ever, many of Venice Family Clinic’s patients—young adults, working parents and seniors—will have access to health insurance,” said Elizabeth Benson Forer, executive director of Venice Family Clinic.

“Because of Congressman Waxman’s efforts, my sister, Emily, was able to have experimental life-saving surgery,” said Daniel Block, a Los Angeles resident and UCLA student. “Today, I am pleased to report that Emily is no longer bedridden and is a thriving student at Tufts University studying Occupational Therapy.”

The report finds that as a result of the new law:

• 4.7 million Los Angeles County residents with private insurance will receive clear and comparable information about their health plans and coverage expected under that plan

• 830,000 seniors in Los Angeles County have received free Medicare preventive services

• More than 76,000 seniors have saved over $40 million in drug costs

• 240,000 young adults who would otherwise be uninsured now have health insurance through their parents’ health care plans;

• 580,000 children with pre-existing medical conditions can get health coverage

• 7,400 small businesses have received tax credits to help provide health care coverage for their employees.

• 1.3 million women will receive coverage of preventive benefits this year, including family planning counseling and FDA-approved contraceptives, at no charge.

When the law goes fully into effect, more than 2.2 million residents of Los Angeles County, who currently lack coverage, will have access to affordable health care coverage for the first time.

For the LA County report and 67 individual city-by-city reports: democrats.energycommerce.house.gov/index.php?q=page/benefits-of-health-care-reform-in-los-angeles-county.